WBEZ | Dr. Drehttp://www.wbez.org/tags/dr-dre
Latest from WBEZ Chicago Public RadioenTag-team production crew The Opus performshttp://www.wbez.org/episode-segments/2011-02-18/tag-team-production-crew-opus-performs-82519
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/The Opus.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>For nearly two decades, music producers Kevin Johnson and Aaron Smith have been joined at the hip-hop intersection of beats and samples. They started out in<a href="http://www.superbro.com/RubberRoom.htm" target="_blank"> Rubberoom</a>- one of the best-known crews of the 1990s. But just as Rubberoom was breaking big, financial realities and personal adversities derailed the band. Fortunately Johnson and Smith were already developing their production team, <a href="http://www.theopusonline.com/" target="_blank">The Opus</a>. As producers, they go by Mr. Echoes and the Isle of Weight, respectively.<br>
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Friday night they perform at <a href="http://www.doubledoor.com/" target="_blank">Dre Day</a>, a hip-hop showcase at the Double Door in Wicker Park honoring the work of hip-hop legend Dr. Dre.</p><p>The Opus performed all hour for <em>Eight Forty-Eight</em> and sat down with host Alison Cuddy to talk about their journey as part of the <a href="http://www.wbez.org/DJ"><em>DJ&nbsp;Series: A Spinning Season</em></a>. Their latest album, <a href="http://theopus.bandcamp.com/album/praying-mantis-plus" target="_blank"><em>Praying Mantis-Plus</em></a>, is out now.<br>
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<strong>Complete list of music during The Opus segment:</strong><br>
Music Button played before segment: The Opus, “Save Me (Void Pedal Remix)”, <em>The Save Me Remix Project</em><br>
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<strong>First song performed live:</strong><br>
The Opus, “Constellation Nine”, originally appears on <em>Praying Mantis-Plus</em><br>
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<strong>Music played during interview:</strong><br>
Rubberoom, “Born”, <em>Architechnology</em><br>
Public Enemy, “Brothers Gonna Work It Out”, <em>Fear of a Black Planet</em><br>
The Opus, “Serpent’s Fruit”, <em>Praying Mantis-Plus</em><br>
The Opus, “Praying Mantis”, <em>Praying Mantis-Plus</em><br>
Rubberoom, “Architechnology 9”, <em>Architechnology</em><br>
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<strong>Second song performed live:</strong><br>
The Opus, “Eons”, originally appears on <em>Praying Mantis-Plus</em></p></p>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:06:00 -0600http://www.wbez.org/episode-segments/2011-02-18/tag-team-production-crew-opus-performs-82519